May 2005 — Applications
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Southern California Catholic School, Community Praise Web-Based Communication Solution
Implementing SchoolFusion also improved parent-teacher communication, meeting one of the goals that enabled
St. Barbara to earn WASC accreditation in June 2004. These solutions also complied with NCLB’s Title II D (Enhancing
Education Through Technology) and Title I A (Improving Academic Achievement of Disadvantaged Students),
which include specific requirements for involving parents in their child’s education and the school community.
Ongoing Success
The ability to offer cutting-edge technology with a fully Web-based school communication system has helped St. Barbara stand out in its community, as well as aided in effective marketing for enrollment. These efforts are vital to ensure the future of Catholic elementary schools in disadvantaged areas, where private schools are often forced to close their doors due to a lack of funding and an inability to compete.
Although SchoolFusion is inexpensive, St. Barbara did not have funding for its first year. However, parents were excited about the addition of SchoolFusion, and knowing the profits from the school’s holiday fund-raiser would directly support the new technology resulted in a hugely successful program. The school’s annual jog-athon and casino night also helped fund the program. In addition, parents are encouraging employers to help the school through donations of used computers and matching grant programs.
The National Education Technology Plan suggests that sometimes tech-savvy students who grow up in the Internet age fuel the change in technology within our schools. This plan suggests that we empower students by enabling their participation in the implementation of technology. St. Barbara has heeded this message; the implementation of SchoolFusion has exposed hidden talents in many of our students. In addition, the school has group Web pages that are created and maintained by students.
The D'E encourages the integration of computer technology in the classroom to help teachers and administrators better track student achievement and effectively adjust their instruction. Fortunately, SchoolFusion’s automated quiz system supplies teachers with instant results. Many teachers use the online quizzes for review and practice, as well as for incorporating integrated learning into each question. Whenever a student gets an answer incorrect, they receive an explanation. The quizzes also allow teachers to evaluate where to focus class reviews before giving an exam.
According to the National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education, everyone benefits when schools and families work together. Its studies have shown that by working together, students do better in school and life, parents become empowered, teacher morale increases, schools get better, and communities grow stronger. We need to give our kids the best chance to succeed, and SchoolFusion helped us make that happen.
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